2010-01-19 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

10 WHEREAS, the amendment as passed by the General Assembly in the 2009 session and before the legislature for a second vote in 2010 poses several significant policy issues: • Not all veterans would be eligible for the benefit, and many of those are already eligible for real property tax exemptions under local tax relief programs for the elderly and the disabled. • Surviving spouses of veterans who died while in service are not eligible for the tax exemption. • Veterans who do not own houses are not eligible. • Veterans with a disability rating of less than 100 percent are not eligible for the exemption. • The exemption is granted with no regard to income level. • The State is providing tax relief using the revenues of local governments, instead of using its own revenues. WHEREAS, the Virginia Municipal League and the Virginia Association of Counties oppose this legislation; and, WHEREAS, there are many potential avenues that the Commonwealth could pursue that would provide financial assistance to all veterans with service-related disabilities, including those who do not have the means to own their own home or who are homeless, including: • Providing a state tax credit based on the real estate tax paid by the eligible veteran. The tax credit could be prorated to the level of disability and to the income level of the veteran, and could be extended to surviving spouses who have not remarried. Survivors of those who die while in service could be eligible to receive the credit at the same level as veterans with a 100 percent level of disability. • Not taxing the unearned income of veterans with service-connected disabilities. While veterans’ disability income is not subject to state income taxation, unearned income is. • Increasing services available to homeless veterans. • Providing a refundable income tax credit for qualified veterans. PUBLIC Dr. Joe Mooney, 201 Sunset Avenue, thanked Mr. Huja for raising the funding issue. He noted that many County people are not water rate payers. He said he believes Council was presented flawed data. He said when all questions are answered we can agree on a good plan. Mr. Bob Fenwick said Mr. Frederick’s remarks seem to press Council to act in haste, and it appears he does not want opposing views on a steering committee. He said it appears that a dam is still his default position. He asked Council to reconsider the recommendation of the beneficial use study. Ms. Betty Mooney said we do not have a plan, we have a permit, and we are required by next year to have a plan. She said the City and Albemarle County Service Authority are the only ones responsible for the State plan. She said a huge amount of money is at state. The meeting was adjourned. _____________________________ ___________________________ President Clerk